Qatar Chamber and UNIDO launch entrepreneurship model aimed at women and youth
What's the deal? Qatar Chamber and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have launched an integrated Qatari model for entrepreneurship and innovation. The initiative builds on the two bodies' strategic cooperation to empower entrepreneurs, with a focus on women and youth.
Who's behind it? The model was revealed at a meeting at Qatar Chamber's headquarters between board member and Qatari Businesswomen Forum chairperson Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani and UNIDO deputy director general Fatou Haidara. Attendees included Qatar Chamber acting general manager Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansoori and UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office head Dr. Hashem Suleiman Hussein.
What's on offer? The partnership runs through direct collaboration between Qatar Chamber's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and UNIDO's Investment and Technology Promotion Office. A Training of Trainers Programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation brought together 30 experts and representatives from across Qatar's ecosystem.
What's the endgame? By refining the model locally, the partners aim to transfer the experience and expand its application at regional and international levels. Talks also covered deeper cooperation on women's entrepreneurship and building partnerships with women entrepreneurs globally.
Why now? The model builds on a February letter of intent between the two sides for an entrepreneurship centre, applying UNIDO's established methodology.
The signal: Qatar's startup push has gained scale, with Startup QatarDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → named a 2026 UN investment-promotion award recipient and Invest QatarDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → reporting more than 850 startups established and over $100 million secured by more than 50 firms. The new model's significance will hinge on whether it coordinates existing support and delivers measurable outcomes, rather than adding another layer to an already crowded ecosystem.
Read more: qna.org.qa
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